sky - no one can say whether you're doing the right thing - you'll meet some weirdos and possibly get some stories to tell - unless you're very lucky, but the alternative is hoping one of your still-married friends introduces you to one of their recently single male friends, who will probably be wrong. At least doing OD means you're taking some control over your life, which is always a good thing.
The first and most important thing about online dating to remember is : it's probably not going to work straightaway. You'll meet people online, exchange messages, emails, phone calls and texts, and they're lovely, and you meet them and it's .. meh. Sorry, no spark. And others where there is a spark but not reciprocated, or they're married or weird in some way. But there are some - oh there are the legendary few - who are perfect. And better than your ex, and make you feel wonderful.
The people on this thread generally haven't met those yet. We huddle in circles and talk in hushed tones about them. But if you don't meet the oddballs, disappearers, marrieds and numpties, you won't meet the Awesomes.
Talking a huge amount before a date doesn't guarantee a connection. Talk to them enough to see if you want to meet them to talk more. Generally when you meet them it's nice, and you work out whether you want to see them again. All of us who have been married or in LTR before go into it with a 'I want to have the wonderful times again' feeling, so we're looking for magic. Don't. Just see if they're worth having coffee with - that's all. Don't think about date 2 until you get to that point.
Anyway. Oi Western, haven't you left for Cambridge yet? :)